Fritz finishes Zverev in four to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final
Fritz submits Zverev 7-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6
California’s Taylor Fritz has reached the quarters at his home slam for the second year in a row. The twenty-six-year-old has had a phenomenal season, excelling on all surfaces. He triumphed on hard courts at Delray Beach, reached the clay final in Munich (l. Struff) and won his third title at Eastbourne on grass.
He achieved a career high rank of #5 in February 2023 and is currently ranked and ranked twelfth. with 8 career titles including a Masters 1000 in Indian Wells, he is still looking for his first on the Grand Slam stage.
Twenty-two-time champion Alexander Zverev of Germany is also seeking his first Grand Slam after reaching the final at Flushing Meadows in 2020 (b. Thiem). The twenty-seven-year-old has had an excellent season, winning the United Cup team title and reaching the semi-finals at the Australian Open (l. Medvedev).
Like his opponent, he excelled on all surfaces. In the dirt, he earned his own 6th Masters 1000 title in Rome and reached the final at Roland Garros (l. Alcaraz) in addition to Hamburg (l. Fils). He made the grass semifinals in Halle and two tough semis at the Masters 1000 Events in Miami and Cincinnati.
AP Photo/Eduardo Munez Alvarez)
He leads ATP Tournament with most match wins 56 and led head to head against Fritz 5-4 even though they split the two contested this season; Fritz dominated in five on the lawns of the All England Club while Zverev triumphed in straights on clay in Rome. This was their first meeting in New York and on a beautiful afternoon at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Zverev won the stroke and elected to take.
Fritz hit one 130mph ace out wide and held for it 30 while Zverev hit two aces and held to draw. The American double-faulted and faced two points, but fought back and held for it 2-1. The German opened the fourth with his third ace, but with a double fault and a net back he faced the break point still held.
Fritz hit his second ace and with a spectacular inside-out front he held to love 3-2 while Zverev hit three winners including two at the net for 3-3. Fritz knocked two winners off the ground and stayed 15 ABOUT 4-3 while Zverev served with new balls held at love.
Fritz donated another double fault still held 15 as Zverev served to stay in the set, hit his fourth ace and held 15 ABOUT 5-5. Fritz opened the eleventh with his third ace and another, held at love 6-5.
the world #4 served to force the breaker and incredibly, after facing triple set point, fired an ace out of range for 6-6. Fritz hit three winners and an unreturnable serve to reach the tiebreak 7-2.
Fritz was both patient and aggressive. He dictated play from the baseline and when serving, matched Zverev’s power and placement. Twice ATP The finals champion served first in the second and with a backhand volley winner, it held 30 while Fritz hit two winners including his fifth ace of the level.
Zverev made love with his sixth ace, while Fritz hit his sixth on the level. Zverev lost 4/5 the first still serves 15 ABOUT 3-2 while Fritz opened with an ace up the tee and held for it 15 for equality.
Zverev served his second double fault, but with a wonderful backhand and the monster appeared wide, held for 4-3 while Fritz made three unforced errors and dropped serve. of 2020 US The Open finalist opened the ninth with a backhand volley winner and his seventh ace clinched the set. 6-3.
The American served first in the third and although he faced break points and deuces, he held on with a fantastic forehand down the line and a colossal serve wide. Zverev served three unforced errors, faced double break points and broke serve when he made another check.
Fritz opened the third with a big serve on the tee and easily consolidated the break 2-0. Zverev serving with new balls hit two winners in a row and easily held on 15 while Fritz served three unforced errors, faced a double break point and dropped serve.
Zverev now playing with a newly strung racquet began hitting the forehand 11mph faster. Although he gave away his third double fault, he won an outstanding one 25-Fired the rally and consolidated the break with a blistering layup at the line.
Fritz served his third double fault, but with his eight ace and a strong backhand on the cross, he held on 15 ABOUT 4-3 while Zverev opened the eighth with a titanic serve to the tee and held for it 15 ABOUT 4-4.
Fritz opened the ninth with his ninth ace and though he gave away another double fault and faced break point after a charm 24– rally shot, held for 5-4 with his tenth ace and a mistake on the German’s side.
Zverev serving to stay in the set served up three consecutive forehand errors and faced triple set points. Although he hit his eighth ace and dropped a backhand down the line, he conceded the game and settled with a net shot.
Fritz served first in the fourth game and with a great inside-outside and backhand. 15 while Zverev hit three winners including his ninth ace, and held at love.
Fritz opened with a scintillating vanguard on the line and his eleventh ace held at love 2-1 while Zverev gifted his fourth double fault still held for him 2-2 with an ace and a backhand volley winner.
Fritz lost 3/6 first serve but held in 30 with this not even the twelfth. Zverev faced two deuces and two break points still held 3-3 with two back-to-back monster serves, one in 135mph!
Fritz’s intensity never wavered as he loved her 4-3. Zverev hit two winners and held 30 ABOUT 4-4. Fritz opened the ninth with a tremendous forehand down the line and held 15 ABOUT 5-4 as Zverev served to stay in the match, hit two aces and held at love level.
The partisan crowd at Ashe Stadium was all in as the set approached another tiebreaker. Fritz did 4/6 serves first and with an incredible back inside held for 6-5 as Zverev served with new balls, hit an incredible forehand inside-out to force the breaker.
Fritz was seven points from the half; Zverev seven from the locker room. Although the German hit one 134mph ace he recoiled 2-5 after Fritz won a charmer 24-shot on the rally with a forehand volley winner across the crossbar. Fritz reached triple match point at 6-3 and converted after two consecutive errors by Zverev.
It was a tough, competitive game. Fritz has finally reached the penultimate round at a Grand Slam, and he did so in New York. He kept his composure while playing with a sense of urgency.
after 3 ½ hour, he finished with twelve aces, and five double faults and won an amazing score 81First % and 53% of second serve points. He was able to break into Zverev’s serve and win 25First % and 52% of second serve return points. He won 2/13 break point during saving 2/4 and hit forty-five winners on forty-eight unforced errors.
In his first Grand Slam semi-final appearance he will battle Grigor Dimitrov with former world #3 AND 9fara or her compatriot, Frances Tiafoe. Fritz has one head-to-head win against both although he has never played Dimitrov on a hard court. Either way, the stakes are extremely high with a coveted spot in a Grand Slam final up for grabs.
